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1. Leaders from the Global South countries gathered at the second virtual ‘Voice of the Global South Summit’ organized by India, under the theme: ‘Global South: Together for Everyone’s Growth, Everyone’s Trust’. At the summit, the Leaders resolved to come together amidst the unprecedented challenges facing the global south countries. In their remarks at the Summit, Leaders recalled the multiple crises faced by the Global South in recent years, including the COVID 19 pandemic, impact of climate change, and rising inflation as well as food & energy insecurity as a fall out geopolitical tensions, creating additional challenges to their efforts to eradicate poverty, access to concessional financing, and achievement of the SDGs. Leaders, in their interventions, agreed that the challenges reflect the familiar struggles of the past for the countries of the Global South, their shared challenges of today as well as their shared vision for a future in which no one is left behind, anywhere in the world.
2. Leaders stressed the need to reform global governance structures in order to make them more responsive to contemporary realities and global challenges of the 21st century, especially the needs of the Global South. They further emphasized that development cannot be realized without peace and security, expressed their strong commitment to finding peaceful and just solutions to disputes and reaffirmed the need to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies. They highlighted the urgency for all countries to come together in the spirit of equality, mutual respect and solidarity and act as ‘One Family’. They expressed their commitment to promoting a systemic shift towards a more inclusive, just, peaceful, resilient and sustainable world, for people and planet, for present and future generations.
3. Leaders of the Global South countries, congratulated India for successfully hosting the 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi (September 9-10, 2023) under the theme of "One Earth, One Family, and One Future”. They expressed appreciation towards India’s efforts in strengthening the voice of Global South, including by making African Union a permanent member of the grouping and galvanizing concrete G20 actions for the Global South during its G20 Presidency. Leaders highlighted the following broad areas for collective global actions in order to realise the vision for an inclusive, peaceful and prosperous future for all:
I. Fostering Human Centric Development for our ‘One Future’: Together for Everyone’s Growth, Everyone’s Trust
In their deliberations, the Leaders called for human-centric development that allows our world to progress towards our ‘One Future’ while leaving no one behind especially in the Global South countries which is home to two thirds of humanity. In this regard, they emphasized the need for the international systems to shift to a human-centric view. Recognizing that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, Leaders expressed their commitment to working tirelessly for enabling equitable access to sustainable development, poverty eradication and reducing inequalities. Leaders further called for it to become the top priority agenda for our international system and institutions. They underlined that for development to be truly human centric and deliver for everyone’s growth, development cooperation should be driven by the key principles of trust, transparency, and equal partnership; should be demand-driven; should respect national sovereignty, and should be tailored to local, national and regional needs and circumstances. Further Leaders highlighted the need for respecting national sovereignty, national ownership and independence; equality; non-conditionality; non-interference in domestic affairs; and mutual benefit.
II. Promoting Human Centric Climate Action- through individual actions (LiFE)
In their interventions, Leaders emphasized that the prosperity and well-being of present and future generations depends on our collective current choices affecting Mother Earth.. They reiterated that no country should have to choose between fighting poverty and fighting for our planet and that climate action must be guided by the principles of equity, climate justice and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC). In this regard, the Leaders recognised the need for increased global investments to meet internationally agreed climate goals, and to rapidly and substantially scale up investment and climate finance from billions to trillions of dollars for the Global South countries. Leaders expressed their commitment to embrace voluntary environmental and climate conscious actions by individuals, public and private entities which would fast-track our collective actions towards achieving a sustainable economy.
III. Implementing just, affordable and inclusive energy transitions while leaving no one behind
Leaders highlighted the impact of global crises on, developing countries, who have been disproportionately affected with increasing energy and food security challenges. In this regard, they called for stepping up efforts, maximizing synergies and minimizing trade-offs through promotion of development models that take into account priorities, needs, vulnerabilities and different national circumstances of developing countries. Leaders highlighted the need for continued international and national efforts for economic growth, reducing global inequality, ensuring food security and the implementation of sustainable, inclusive and globally just energy transitions, while leaving no one behind. Leaders agreed that achieving inclusive energy transition is contingent on a global partnership and such a collaborative approach will result in optimum resource distribution, technological tie-ups and sharing of best practices. India also invited the Global South countries to join the Global Biofuels Alliance.
IV. Delivering on Financing for Development
On the crucial issue of Financing for Development, Leaders underlined the urgent need for a comprehensive reform of the international financial architecture and a more inclusive and coordinated approach to global financial governance. They emphasized the need for developed countries to scale up and fulfil their respective official development assistance commitments. Leaders highlighted the increasing debt vulnerabilities faced by countries of the Global South and underlined the need for flexible debt restructuring frameworks recognizing that one size does not fit all countries. In this regard they emphasised the importance of consultative, demand-driven and people centric efforts for continuing to enhance cooperation for sharing experiences and learnings. They further underscored the need to ensure that no Global South country falls into a debt trap.
V. Leveraging technological transformation though Digital Public Goods for benefit of all
On the issue of Technological transformation, Leaders of the Global South countries, recognized that technology can offer unprecedented opportunities. They further called for more equitable access to the benefits of the digital economy including by addressing the risks and challenges emerging from the use of technologies and ensuring that the benefits of these technologies are available to all. They reaffirmed the crucial role of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Data for Development in boosting growth, improving delivery of public services and accelerating development.
VI. Reinvigorating and Reforming the Multilateral System for an Inclusive, Peaceful and Prosperous Future
Leaders called for reinvigorating a more inclusive multilateralism, including through reform of the multilateral system for implementing the 2030 Agenda and achieving its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They reiterated the call for comprehensive reforms of the United Nations, with the Security Council at its core, to make it ‘fit for purpose’ to effectively address contemporary global challenges. They emphasized that a reformed United Nations must be faithful to its founding principles and adapt to carrying out its mandate. Leaders further reaffirmed the need for better integrating the perspectives of developing countries in international agendas so as to make the global governance systems more inclusive, representative and consultative.
VII. Encouraging Women-led Development to achieve SDGs
Leaders recognized women’s central and irrefutable role in sustainable development, and expressed their commitments to promoting women-led development and enhancing women’s full, equal, effective, and meaningful participation as decision makers for addressing global challenges. They acknowledged that women’s contribution as active participants in all spheres of society, across all sectors and at all levels of the economy, is not only crucial for achieving gender equality, but also for contributing to global GDP growth and sustainable development.
VIII. Accelerating the integration of Global South countries in global value chains
Leaders expressed their commitment to strengthening and broadening the voice and participation of developing countries in decision making on global issues and in shaping global agendas. In particular, they underscored their commitment to promoting effective integration of the global south countries into global value chains in a manner that renders them resilient and reliable as well as development-oriented. They further called for stronger global efforts for improving supply chains, facilitating access to markets and keeping global supply chains open, secure, trusted, stable, accessible and peaceful. They further highlighted the role of South-South cooperation in this regard and discussed ways to promote mutual cooperation and investments amongst the Global South countries.
IX. Prioritizing the achievement of 2030 agenda and its SDGs
Leaders expressed their concerns about the ongoing crises and their impact on the 2030 agenda. In this regard, the Leaders called for following bold, ambitious, accelerated, just and transformative actions, anchored in international solidarity and effective cooperation at all levels. Leaders especially called for a collective focus on enhancing resilience in our economies, societies, healthcare systems, education systems and infrastructure. They called for transforming education and for implementing One Health approach and strengthening health systems. They further reiterated that States will not be able to achieve the ambitious Goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda without a revitalized and enhanced global partnership and comparably ambitious means of implementation.
X. Strengthening International cooperation on Countering Terrorism
Leaders recalled their commitment to strengthening international cooperation to preventing and combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. They highlighted the need to prevent the misuse of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes and called for strengthened international cooperation and national cyber capabilities in this regard.
4. Leaders expressed their concern at the ongoing conflicts and the disproportionate adverse effect they have on developmental efforts in the countries of the Global South. The leaders expressed deep concern at the deteriorating security situation in several parts of the world and called for return to dialogue and diplomatic discussions. They further underlined their commitment to extending humanitarian assistance to meet the urgent needs of civilian populations and called for these efforts to be supported. In this context, they recalled the need for countries of the Global South to strengthen development and economic cooperation among themselves, and to promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts, efforts to address crises as well as diplomacy and dialogue. They further expressed the sentiment that ‘Today’s era must not be of war’.
5. Going forward, they expressed their commitment to further strengthen the Voice of the Global South and to come together for humanity’s ‘One Future’.
New Delhi
November 21, 2023
